History: USS Ronald Reagan CVN-76

The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is a Nimitz class nuclear powered aircraft carrier (supercarrier) in service of the United States Navy. The USS Ronald Reagan is the ninth ship of her class and it was named in the honor of former United States president Ronald Reagan (1981-1989). Back in 2001 it was the first ship to be named after a former president still alive at the time of christening.

Currently (May 2012) the ship is part of Carrier Strike Group Nine and it is under the command of the Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific/Commander, Naval Air Forces.

Ship's seal

The USS Ronald Reagan's seal was designed by the plankowner crew with the help of the staff members at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library foundation.

Design and construction

Naming

Technology

Operational Service

The USS Ronald Reagan completed her five-month post-shakedown availability (PSA) and received her second flight deck certification on 8 May 2004. This certification includes all flight operations, including aircraft launch and recovery, safety, crash and salvage, fuel certifications, and training.
This event was followed by the transfer of the aircraft carrier from Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia to her new homeport of Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego. The transit journey took the ship around Cape Horn, South America having on board 25% of Carrier Air Wing Eleven, normally assigned to USS Nimitz.
The squadrons which made the transit were VFA-14 and VFA-41 flying the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, VAW-117 flying the E-2C Hawkeye 2000, HS-6 flying the SH-60F Seahawk and VRC-30 flying the C-2A Greyhound. The USS Ronald Reagan then transited the Strait of Magellan on 21 June 2004 and made several port visits to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Valparaiso, Chile, and Callao, Peru before arriving in San Diego on 23 July 2004.

On 1 October 2004 the USS Ronald Reagan was assigned to Carrier Strike Group Fifteen.

2006 maiden deployment

2007 surge deployment

2008 deployment

2009 deployment

2010

2011

Commanding officers

• John William "Bill" Goodwin — November 2000 – 28 August 2003
• James A. Symonds — 28 August 2003 – 17 November 2005
• Terry B. Kraft — 17 November 2005 – 2 May 2008
• Kenneth Joseph "KJ" Norton – 2 May 2008 – August 2010
• Thom W. Burke – August 2010 – present

Accidents

During her deployments the USS Ronald Reagan was involved or was the scene of several accidents:

• On 17 January 2005 an MM1 died after receiving 2nd and 3rd degree burns to more then 70 percent of his body as a result of an accident during steam-valve maintenance.
• 28 January 2006 an F/A-18C assigned to VFA-25 crashed 120 miles south of Brisbane, Australia while attempting to land on the USS Ronald Reagan. The pilot safely ejected and was recovered. No injuries were reported.

See also

Aircraft carrier
Nimitz class